No treatment can erase pores. They are a normal part of the skin, and their size is largely set by genetics, oil production and age. What treatment can do is clear the debris that stretches them, calm excess shine and improve the skin around them, so they look smaller and less obvious.
At ZARA, 304 Edgware Road, London W2, the main options are a Carbon Peel (face) at £130, for oily skin with clogged, visible pores, and Microneedling (face) at £120, for pores that look enlarged because the surrounding skin has lost firmness or has an uneven texture. A HydroFacial at £80 or Microdermabrasion (face) at £70 can help keep congested pores clear.
We look at why your pores look large before suggesting anything, at a free consultation.
Why do pores look enlarged?
Every pore is the opening of a hair follicle with an oil gland attached. Several things make those openings look bigger:
- Oil. Oilier skin, often across the nose, forehead and chin, tends to show more visible pores.
- Congestion. Oil and dead skin collect in the opening and stretch it, and blackheads make pores look darker and wider.
- Age and sun. As collagen and elastin decline, the skin around each pore loosens, so pores on the cheeks can look wider or slightly oval.
- Genetics. Pore size runs in families and differs between skin types.
Heat, humidity and picking can make pores look worse for a while. Squeezing in particular can inflame the skin and leave marks.
Can enlarged pores be made smaller?
Pores cannot be closed, and the gland beneath them does not go away. The realistic goal is for them to look smaller: cleaner, less shiny, less stretched and set in smoother skin. Most people notice the change in how their skin looks in daylight and how make-up sits, rather than in any single pore.
Results build over a course and fade with time, so many people plan occasional maintenance once they are happy with how their skin looks.
How does a carbon laser peel help oily skin and open pores?
For oily skin with visible, clogged pores, a carbon laser peel is usually the first option we discuss. A thin carbon lotion is painted on and settles into the surface and the pore openings. Passes of a laser then break it apart, lifting away surface oil and dead skin with it, while gentle heat reaches the upper layers of the skin.
Skin often looks brighter and less oily on the day. Changes to how pores look build over a course. Typical courses are three to six sessions with two to four weeks between them, although one or two visits are enough for some people. Each Carbon Peel (face) is £130 and is booked as a 40 minute appointment.
When is microneedling the better choice?
If your pores look large mainly because the skin around them has lost firmness or feels rough and uneven, microneedling may suit you better. Very fine needles create controlled micro-injuries, prompting the skin to build fresh collagen and elastin over the next few weeks. It is often chosen for pores on the cheeks and nose, particularly where shallow acne scarring is also present.
Microneedling (face) is £120 per session. Texture usually needs three to six sessions, each four to six weeks apart. Your face will look flushed, rather like mild sunburn, for one to three days, then may feel dry and flake lightly.
Can a facial help with open pores?
Facials work on the surface, so they will not change the structure of your pores, but keeping them clear helps them look smaller for a while.
- HydroFacial, £80. Cleanses, exfoliates and uses gentle suction to lift debris from congested pores, with a focus on the T-zone.
- Microdermabrasion (face), £70. Buffs away dead skin and helps with mild congestion and blackheads.
Dermaplaning smooths the surface and removes fine facial hair, but it does not change pore size in any lasting way. If a surface facial between courses makes sense for you, we will suggest spacing so that treatments do not clash.
Who should wait before pore treatment?
We will usually ask you to wait, or choose another option, if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a tan or sunburn, or have used a sunbed recently
- Have taken isotretinoin in the last six months, or use a medicine that makes skin sensitive to light
- Have active cold sores, infection or inflamed acne on the face
- Have a history of keloid scarring, or melasma that heat could aggravate
- Have epilepsy triggered by light, for laser treatment
Lasers interact with pigment, so darker skin tones need careful assessment and sometimes a test patch before a carbon peel.
See your GP first about any spot, lump or mole that is new, growing or bleeding, and about a rash that has not been diagnosed. For worries after treatment when we cannot be reached, NHS 111 is the number to call.
How do you look after your skin between sessions?
After a carbon peel, mild redness and warmth usually settle within a few hours, and some people notice slight dryness or flaking. For two days, keep your routine plain: no saunas or hot yoga, and no retinoids, acids or scrubs. After microneedling, avoid make-up, the gym and swimming for 24 hours. With either, use SPF 30 or above daily and keep away from strong sun and sunbeds for a fortnight or longer.
At home, a gentle cleanser, a light moisturiser and daily SPF go a long way. Resist squeezing pores, which stretches and inflames them.
Close to Bayswater, Lisson Grove and Paddington
ZARA is at 304 Edgware Road, about 50 metres from the Bakerloo line entrance at Edgware Road station. Church Street Market in Lisson Grove is roughly a 7 minute walk away and Paddington Basin about 6 minutes, while from Bayswater the Circle line runs to Edgware Road on Chapel Street, 2 to 3 minutes from the door. A 40 minute carbon peel fits into a lunch break or an evening before we close at 8pm.
To talk through your pores in person, send the booking form, message us on WhatsApp at 07479 973309 or call 020 4619 8781 for a free consultation.
Enlarged pores treatment: your questions answered
Can pores be shrunk for good?
No. Pore size is largely set by your genes, oil production and age. Treatment can make pores look smaller and cleaner, and daily sun protection and a gentle routine help you hold on to that improvement.
Which treatment suits open pores on my nose?
Pores on the nose are usually linked to oil and congestion, so a carbon laser peel or a HydroFacial is often where we start. Wider pores on the cheeks linked to texture may respond better to microneedling.
How many carbon peels will I need for my pores?
Usually somewhere between three and six, spaced a few weeks apart. A few people stop after one or two because they are already happy. We will be straight with you about what we think you need.
Do pore strips make pores smaller?
They can pull out some blackheads, which makes pores look cleaner for a short time, but they do not change pore size and can irritate the skin if used often.
Can darker skin have laser treatment for pores?
Often, yes, but only after a careful look at your skin, as laser energy is drawn to pigment. Tell us if you have had dark marks after spots or past treatments, and we may start with a test patch or recommend a different route.
How much does large pore treatment cost?
A Carbon Peel (face) is £130 and Microneedling (face) is £120 per session. A HydroFacial is £80 and Microdermabrasion (face) is £70. We confirm your plan and the total for any course at a free consultation.
